Sacred Datura
Thorn-Apple
Datura wrightii
Photographed in the foothills of Four Peaks, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Sept. 2006 The image is hosted at the Wikimedia Project
Closs-up of fruit. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License.
FLOWERS: Large, funnel-shaped, highly fragrant flowers open at night to be pollinated mostly by sphinx moths.
PERENNIAL : Robust plant of mid summer into fall. Underground
potato-like tubers regrow for several seasons. Plants two meters across and a
meter tall possible.
LEAVES: Broad triangulate leaves are dark green and often have evidence of caterpillar feeding.
FRUIT: Spherical capsule with fleshy thorns. Upon drying the fruit breaks open irregularly to reveal large, tan seeds.
RANGE: Frequent throughout the Sonoran Desert especially in riparian habitats and near mesquite bosques. Also widely cultivated.
UNARMED